CambridgeshireLive readers have been sharing their views on the A141 St Ives road improvements, lorries using residential streets as rat runs and proposed bypass plans
CambridgeshireLive readers have been sharing their thoughts on St Ives streets being exploited as “rat runs”, where lorries “thunder through” residential areas to bypass the congested A141. Many questioned whether proposals genuinely incorporate local feedback and what modifications might follow.
Locals say heavy goods vehicles are “thundering” through residential roads to avoid a congested route. The claims follow the unveiling of proposals to upgrade the A141 and roads in St Ives amid concerns about traffic congestion.
An update on the plans was delivered to Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority’s transport committee on Wednesday, September 8. It proposed a new dual-carriageway bypass from Spittalls Interchange to a new roundabout on the B1090.
The B1090 would also be upgraded to dual carriageway up to the A141 roundabout, with an additional lane added to Harrison Way between the A1123 and the busway. Two new “offline routes” for pedestrians and cyclists were also proposed to connect Huntingdon and St Ives, alongside four routes to extend the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway. It also put forward two new park and ride facilities at Huntingdon Racecourse and Wyton Airfield.
One of our readers, Whynot2 says: “The only reason it’s a residential area now is because of all the houses that have been built, lorries were using the road long before. If the road is a 30/40mph and lorries are doing the speed limit, does that mean cars and vans are thundering through as well?”
Freddly adds: “If the council or National Highways were to improve the A141 and roads in St Ives, congestion would reach current levels 18 months after the projects were completed, and would obviously surpass it on nearby (unimproved) roads.”
VFRrider writes: “Maybe the lorries are delivering to the businesses. Also, lorries coming from the Chatteris direction would use that road. A pity councillors live in a fantasy world where people only carry clipboards and don’t have goods to deliver and pick up. These people would destroy every business.”
Over on our Facebook page, Jamie BH comments: “In other words, a list of streets ‘in play’ for future LTNs”
Clare D says: “What’s the betting? They’re gonna reduce the speed to 50 miles an hour and put cameras all the way along? It’s just an excuse to do this. These 50 miles per hour and 20 miles per hour limits are absolutely stupid. We’re going back in our evolution. Why keep changing things that work just so you can put cameras up and get revenue in, plus I’m sure all these stupid limits everywhere are actually messing up lorries, they are diesel. They need to clear themselves out now and again, or is that what the government is hoping for? So then they can force everyone to go electric.”
Robert M feels: “50mph is reasonable and acceptable. Just because your speedo has 80 mph on it, you don’t have to drive that fast.”
What would you do about these ‘rat runs’? Comment below or HERE to have your say.
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